DAVID CAMERON'S plans for a Royal Charter on press regulation were unveiled yesterday – dropping Lord Justice Leveson’s recommendation that a new system be underpinned by law.

The Tory proposals would mean newspapers continue to regulate themselves, but are overseen by a “recog­nition panel” to ensure the new regulator did its job properly.

The Conservatives say their plans mean legislation is not required.

In November Lord Justice Leveson’s report on press standards, commissioned in the wake of the phone-hacking scandal, recommended an independent, self-regulatory watchdog backed by legislation.

It would see the toughest press regulation this country has ever seen, without compromising press ­freedom. I have been clear that the status quo is not an option and that we need tough independent self- regulation

Culture Secretary Maria Miller

That had the support of the Liberal Democrats and Labour, who have published a draft Bill setting out how it could be implemented.

But the Prime Minister said he did not believe a Bill was necessary and, instead, the Conservatives say a Royal Charter is the right way to provide legal backing for any new press regulator.

Culture Secretary Maria Miller said the proposals would allow the Leveson principles to be “implemented swiftly”.

She said: “It would see the toughest press regulation this country has ever seen, without compromising press ­freedom. I have been clear that the status quo is not an option and that we need tough independent self- regulation.”

She added: “The ongoing cross-party talks will seek to secure consensus around the Royal Charter.”

Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg took the unusual step last year of making a separate statement in the Commons to that of Mr Cameron because their two parties were split over whether there should be statutory underpinning of a new ­system. But the Lib Dems did not rule out the charter proposals yesterday.

British Prime Minister David Cameron on the steps of number 10 Downing Street

A party spokesman said: “We have always said our preferred option is to implement what Leveson suggested – a system of independent self-regulation backed by statute.

“But we are also clear that the best outcome would be to move forward with cross-party agreement.”

The Hacked Off campaign group, which wants complete implementation of the Leveson recommendations, rejected the charter plan as “a surrender to press pressure”.

Shadow Culture Secretary Harriet Harman said there was the prospect of an agreement but only if key changes were made.

The plans were welcomed last night by Paul Vickers, chair of the Newspaper and Magazine Industry Implementation Group, who said the work of setting up the regulator could begin as soon as the charter was established.

“We are convinced this should be done without statute, which would raise dangerous constitutional questions,” he said. There were a number of outstanding issues but, he added: “The newspaper and magazine industry are determined to have a new, Leveson- recommended regulatory system up and running as soon as possible.”